A man returning two children to their mother last night after they had spent the day with him ended up shooting their new stepfather, San Diego police said.

The incident occurred at 7 p.m. in North Park on El Cajon Boulevard near Texas Street, police said. The men met to exchange custody of the children when an argument broke out, and the man returning the children shot the other in the face, police said.

The victim, who was hospitalized with wounds not considered life-threatening, is married to the children's mother, police said. The other man had had a relationship with the woman.

After the shooting, the father drove away in his car. No other details were available. Police did not say whether the children were present during the shooting.